55 Chevy 'post' build
 

Having met some of the NW members at Brunings Auto Design yesterday -- and meeting Youthpastor (Chris) and seeing his newest project - I thought I'd let him view this car I'm building for a friend that had a stroke and couldn't start the car of his dreams, let alone build it... so I "rescued" the car and am putting it together for him. All the parts were purchased -- and a little of the work was started but I had already done a great deal of that work to start with - so figured I'd just jump in and finish it for him... like I didn't have anything to do to start with... :>)

I had already pulled the body of the original chassis -- modified the floors and trunk slicked the firewall - and built a new tranny tunnel... This car is purely a driver - no shows - no mirrors...


http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...DSC_3131-1.jpg

Did I mention - that when he couldn't come up with a painter - I said 'oh what the hell - I'll just shoot the thing myself (firewall work only - rest of the car was already done). As I left the shop I looked back and had to take this pic!

http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...E/DSC_3089.jpg

A little bodywork was needed to make it flat... Did I mention I HATE bondo and "dirt and dust" in my "shed"??

http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...E/DSC_3060.jpg

The PPG single stage urethane turned out "okay".... as did my bodywork... :>)


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He already had the interior done -- and is keeping with the 210 'Theme'... That's the front seat sitting on the floor. I had to clean the bottom side completely - despite him not wanting to do this... "it's just a driver" -- but I couldn't stand to drop this on a brand new AME chassis with all the 'crud' on the bottom and it's a lot easier on the rotisserie!!

http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...upholstery.jpg

That car is beautiful. I like how you think about you skills, just alright. You have some great skills. Keep us posted. When do you think it will be done?

:hail: :hail:

Thank you for the kind compliments... but truly - I'm just a retired salesman -- that likes working on "stuff" and I have the space (The Shed) and some modest investment in tools -- and I'm only LEARNING to use them. I do many things over... and learn something each time... My "time" is the only thing I have lots of and the skills just need "time" to be honed. I don't even get upset about doing something 2 and 3 times - because my expectations are low to start with!! LOL

I was hoping to have the car "done" and gone by May... but then summer came around - and I'm the grounds keeper and pool boy - and I like to golf with my buddies etc -- and I have two cars of my own to keep up with - and love to make changes on them... so the 55 kind of got pushed to the side for a few weeks in June while I did some stuff on my own junk. After next week (GoodGuys in Puyallup) I'll jump back on it - there's little to do now - finish up the wiring -- the dynamat is all done - the trunk is all built out - the motor and trans all done... so it's "windows" and power locks - and some A/C and heater hose plumbing... and fiberglass inner wheel wells to fit and paint... So maybe by the end of September? Then it's time to re-do my 37 Ford!! And it's why we have winters here in the PNW! Time to hang out in the shed and make some 'stuff'!! EEEEEEEEHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAA

That looks really nice Greg!

wow stance and wheels are perfect- I love blk 55's, probably because of burning my retinas watching Milner chase down a "very wicked" 55 chevy on VHS-

looks like we need to have a winter "SHED" party!!:)

thanks for the inspiration!!

Chris ---

Here's where this 'build' started! He'd bought the car from someone that had it listed on ebay --- but he bought it after the listing expired only after agreeing that we'd go to LA to see the car... he wanted to start out with a "decent" body -- saving time and $$$ on bodywork because he only wanted a nice modern "driver" quality car...

http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...Ricks003-1.jpg

Talk about T I M E !! This is a pair of stock cast iron headers that another buddy smoothed - then we had them CERAMIC coated in black... not sure how long this took him - but they sure turned out nice...


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The tunnel needed a small amount of massaging to get the Tremec to fit. I basically just sliced it down the middle - then sliced it side to side - then I could lift it and tack it etc to see how much it had to come up - I pie sliced around the factory access -- lifted that piece up and built the new pieces to make that all work.

http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...E/DSC_2888.jpg

Thanks Chris!! I figured you might enjoy seeing this... and yeah buddy... you're on for a shed party! LOL

We'll chat at your GG party - you're welcome to come to my shed anytime - and when you get started with your new 55 and need to make something... I've got lots of stuff you can use.

Nice work on the 55 Greg. I have to say, you are pretty modest in describing your skills. I saw your center console in the Nomad in person, that and the rest of the car are REALLY nice! I'd let you fab anything you wanted on my car and be proud to say who did it.

I think we should get a rotating "shed" party going through the winter, once a month at a new place for the NW guys.:D

Good idea! Let's discuss it at GG show 'party'/get together?
:thumbsup:

Was the previous owners last name Ballister by chance?


Very nice car !

Jason

I don't remember -- can't even think of what town we had to go to... but was in the LA area -- I have pictures of the guys house in the background... He seemed to be kind of a "fix it up and sell it" kind of guy... but I'm not sure about that either - but that's the way it looked. Here's a pix of the house where we bought it...

http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...E/Ricks001.jpg

NO!! That's not my trailer.... it's his I think.

http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...E/Ricks005.jpg

This is my truck and trailer.... Funny -- I don't own any black cars!! This pic was taken when we arrived at Ricks house with his new "project" just fresh back from LA.

http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...E/Ricks011.jpg

Beautiful work !

Very nice looking '55 Greg!! See ya soon!! :cheers:

Nice project and killer work Greg. Love to see more shoebox builds :thumbsup:

Thanks! It's so funny to go back to find pix to post -- and remembering the "road trip" -- and what the car looked like compared to what it looks like now...

The best part of this whole 'deal' is that I've gotten to do things on his car - a complete 'freebie' do as I can or what I want to... and I learned a lot! This whole build is just me helping a buddy out... and since he only wants a driver - and no outward mods (thank god!) except the firewall - it makes it pretty easy. It's really just a body transfer - wiring - some plumbing - some polishing...

I was looking at the build of the Factory Five Racing Cobra that's posted on here - where the owner starts out with two tubes - and builds the whole danged car from there... NOW THAT IS SKILL... what I'm doing is just simple stuff a high school kid could do. Well... considering my wife says "we" all quit maturing as sophomores -- I guess that description works huh!! LOL

That looks awesome Greg.
Not too bad for a "shed" build!! Looks good.:thumbsup:

I just bought a Go Pro Hero HD camera... so of course... had to video something to test it out!

I posted up this video - of the 55 in this thread... Turn your sound off -- I suck as a narrator! LOL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ReG8b8at8A

The video says it's still formatting it or whatever YouTube does to them so right now it's GRAINY... Hopefully this goes away when they're done doing whatever.

I was also SHOCKED at how long it takes to upload a video! It's like an hour for a couple of minute movie. Well - now that I've learned that.... I might make the next one a lot shorter. :rofl:

Greg, I have some tools and someday would like you to use them:D :D . Had to turn up the volume, as you've stated in the past, everyone seems to have a 55 but I also would someday love to have one. Would like to stop by sometime and take a look at it. Great looking build.

Lenie -- I'm having a party here -- for the local tri five club - on June 5th - rain or shine -- PM or email me and I'll give you the address if you want to come over!

Greg, that is a sweet project. Good friend you are. :)

Thanks -- but ANYONE would do the same - if they had the time and space. I have both. I'm lucky. He's a good friend and this was his dream car... I'm just throwing it together for him so he can at least be driven around in it.

He had already assembled all of the parts... I was intimately aware of what he wanted and had helped him do some of the work prior. So it's not that big a deal to finish it up. My own projects can wait. I just have to button up the dash now -- install the carpet - and the interior (which is all done already)... and paint the inner wheel wells and I'm "done". I've driven it - and it drives GREAT and runs great and the 6 speed is just sweet... makes me want one. :thumbsup:

Hey Greg! Can I tell you something! :thumbsup: Great job :D

:cheers: :bow: :bow: :woot: Ya got me.

XOXO
Greg

Hey Greg,

In all seriousness, great job and props to you for being a true friend. We all like to think we would do something like that. I hope I am in the position to help when someone needs it. This is truly one of the great things about this hobby! :cheers:

Now go take some public speaking classes before you make another video! You didn't think I could be serious for 2 paragraphs did you? :lol: :rofl: :wow:

I'm - er uh... well I'm uh... yeah... 'cause er uh... this little whatchamacallit thngy here is uh... hooked to the er uh... :woot:

:hail: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :hail:

We definitely need to hang out!

Seriously -- I never intended to post that ANY video up - I was just messing with the little Go Pro camera... I wanted to see how it worked and whether a guy could use it in this manor... and whether the audio would work like this. Then I thought I could use it to send to "Murph" --- but when I tried to attach it to email - the file is way too large. So next up -- post it on YouTube and let him watch it...

Since I don't care about embarrassing myself... :D

I figured I'd post the link here since several people have asked about the project.

These little cameras are pretty dang amazing - for less than $300! And you really can just slip them in your shirt pocket if you wanted to video something other than a car running the cones etc.

I just saw those gopro cameras, at costco yesterday. Looks like you get real nice quality video from it.

Nice one!

Well -- just an update now that I've delivered this project back to my buddy The Rickster....

Just a note if you don't remember -- I inherited this project - a complete frame off - LS2 - Tremec 6 speed - new everything -- Art Morrison chassis - Wilwood disc -- power windows -- power door locks -- factory style A/C balls cut into the dash - Vintage A/C - slicked the firewall -- smooth inner fenders -- from the guy that was SUPPOSED to build it for Rick -- and it sat untouched for about 2 and a half years. It was nothing but the bare body sitting on the chassis when I picked it up. Rick asked if I could retrieve it for him... and I said yes. He had a massive stroke in the meantime... but you'll see a picture of him in his new ride taken this Sunday. I delivered the car Saturday and our club (Northwest Classic Chevy Club) puts on a tri five chevy only show at the local hamburger joint (XXX Rootbeer). This is the first and only show he's been able to get to in 2 years.... so it was truly great to have him arrive in his 'new car'. Another buddy drove him to the show - where the car won a trophy. BTW -- This build was a freebie - not a pro build... but a buddy doing another buddy a favor. That's what the hobby is about right?!


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You're a good man Greg! That was mighty nice of you, great that he's able to get out in it!

Car looks great by the way! I've always liked the 55 post cars the most of the tri 5's myself. Maybe one day.......

Thanks John...

The grin he had from ear to ear was worth every hour spent!

Only someone that has actually built a car from the ground up -- would know what it takes to do this kind of a build... I just wish he could have been there with me to enjoy the process.... but he's had some REALLY SERIOUS health issues since the stroke. I was really jammin' on the car this last week with all the last minute detail stuff... just so he could attend the show on Sunday - when his wife calls on Friday and says he's had a grand maul seizure... but he made it for a couple of hours on Sunday. So that was good!

Great to see all you did Greg, and your friend in his car.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Thats awesome Greg. We only think we know how much this ment to him, It probably meant more than we can imagine.
Your A OK in my book Weld !

Thanks Skip!

It's not a car that I'd build... but it is the car he wanted built. That only makes sense if you know the details and what he wanted out of the car. We spent about 2 years (beginning maybe 2004) talking about "the plan". Ricks plan was that he wanted to buy a car that he didn't have to paint. All he wanted was the body... but NO bodywork or paint. He figured and figured -- as a retired CFO would... and came up with his budget... 100 grand - including the cost of the donor. Sounds expensive until you actually start putting real numbers to paper.. AME chassis with the works - 18 grand - Motor/tranny new - 9000 ish -- etc - so we found this car in LA area for about 25g and did the road trip to fetch it.

He did not want a restoration -- he just wanted a "decent" body/paint - but on modern running gear -- with old skool interior etc...

I tried and tried and tried to talk them into stripping the car and doing a real inspection of bare metal - and then just doing a single stage urethane paint job... but no way jose.

SO in the end -- all the parts and pieces -- add up to a car that has a value of about 35 cents on the dollar.... because the body and trim that "looked okay" now don't look quite so good when you put it next to the new paint I put on the firewall and inner fender wells... etc --- and the more billet you put on it - the worse the trim looks etc. To me -- it's a lesson I've tried to save others from doing. Which is --- once you start -- you have to go all the way. Otherwise -- don't start. BUT -- always a big butt somewhere -- this is the car he designed and the car he wanted. Hydraulic clutch - 6 speed - AME chassis - great brakes - LS motor - all new wiring -- new rubber seals etc -- but it's on OLD paint - old trim - old window glass.... so to me it's half baked. A Ricks stainless steel tank underneath - right next to a bumper that needs to be re-chromed.

Since the body was on my rotisserie - stripped bare... there was nothing to slamming it in the trailer -- having it blasted - blocking it - and a quick spray... buff the trim and have the chrome done.... then it would be killer... but as it is -- he has $600 each chromed Budniks next to orange peel... LOL

Anyway -- I'm glad it's "done" and he's happy as a pig in pooh...

Greg,

I didn't know the full story behind it. Obviously quite an odyssey for both of you. I am so impressed by what you did for him.

Do you now devote full car attention to the '37?

Car looks great Greg. You're a good man!! You did a very good thing my man!
Glad to see your friend enjoys it!:thumbsup: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

I will wait 'til about October to bring the 37 chassis down off the wall... and then it's BUILD ON!!

I now have to get with Jason R for some rendering work... we've been talking and doing a bit of planing. So yes - is the answer to your question. I'll start a build thread on that as soon as I have some "info" worth posting.

I'm turning 57 this month... and this build of the 55 wore me out... because it's not the same as building a car for yourself... you don't get the fun of making the decisions and doing what I call the "hunting and gathering" (half the fun of a build). And frankly the age is catching up with me... laying under the dash just isn't as easy as it used to be... so have really been thinking that the 37 should go down to Brizio... but we'll see how my hands feel when the monsoon season kicks in and I'm bored and looking for something to do. :willy: :D